San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-05
CHAITIR ".

Mr.. GaScOigne WAS sitting in the armchair
by the hearth, leaking rs though he had not
moved since left him on the previous night.
Nor did the room look much different, eX-
cept that daylight dimly illumined it, and
that the long table was bare, save for books
and papers.
Good day, Miss Thorne," he said-''good
day. hope you find things comfortable for
your
Very comfortable indeed, thank you"
"lOu need not thank me. What do you
suppose had to do with il? But tell me
when they are not. Now please take up
that Times by your side; sit down opposite
tome, and read aloud Sir Stafford North
cOtc's speech"
rca to him for an hour from the Times,
speeches and leading articles, obituary aud
wills, and then for half an hour wrote three
or four business letters as to the manage
ment Of the estate, and transcribed a chess
problem he had worked out in the morning
After that, until half-past four, read TO
him portion of one of SCOTS novels Red
gauntlet and, as the half-hOur struck,
was dismissed until half-past six.
At five came a message that ! was expect
ed in the drawing-roOm.
In a flowing tea-gown of peacock blue,
with sacque train and cascade of cream
cOlOred lace, Lady Martin POmeroy stood
pouring out the tea. Hilda Farquhar was
sitting, book in hand, in her low chair, in
robes Of palest sapphire hue, setting Off the
delicate beauty of her skin and the tint Of
her yellow hair, and almost matching the
clear cold blue of har large eyes.
Lady Martin looked up as entered.
Good evening"" she said, with mockery
in her tone. 81 suppose you have spent a
pleasant day and made yourself at home in
the Granger"
Hilda merely turned her eyes for a second
In my direction, and let the lids fall over
them again and the eyebrows. arch little
higher. But Annis, who was kneeling on
the hearthrug, her white dress spreading
over the floor, got up and came to meet me,
holding out her hand.
Mrs. Creams tells me she has been tax
ing you over the house," she said. "How do
you like it, Miss ThOrne?
1T is perfect" l answered. 81 do not
know how else to describe it,"
Really" said Lady Martin, 81 was not
aware that you were an enthusiast. Mr..
GascOigne omitted to tell us that"
ut is very beautiful, "Annis said quickly;
"but it is dull. O,her people generally ad-
mire it more than we do"
How many people have you known who
have seen it?" asked Lady Martin, in scarce
ly pleasanter tones than those she had adj
dressed to me.
81 have heard friends at NOrbury speak
Of 1.-THE Daleys and the MarjOribanks, for
instance-and always with admiration"
II have never seen such lovely house."
l said.
Have you been inside many family
seats?" asked GwendOlne tauntingly.
Yes" answered quietly, IA good num-
ber-nOt in this county, but in Wiltshire,
where my home is, and in Norfolk, where
Lady Fenwick lives"
Lady Fenwick was your last employer,
was she nOt?''-"Yes."
II think have heard of her-an odd look
ing old woman whose grandfather made
candles. Did you train the parrot and teach
the poodle, Miss ThOrne?"
II did not, Lady Martin"
Indeed! Perhaps your time was wholly
engaged by less fascinating emplOyments?"
do you wish to learn what are the duties
of a companion, Lady Martin? If so, have
hardly had sufficient experience to tell you"
Not l." she said. 81 don't think the sub
ject is interesting"
do you nOt?" put in Annis. 81 do.
think it is very interesting. You must see
such variety of people, and get to know
them so much more intimately than by
merely meeting them now and again"
What an advantagew interjected Gwen
dOlne.
"And then there is something attractive
about it as an employment. Think of all
| the novel herOines who were companions /;
romantic things always happen to them,
fancy. Don't you agree with me, Miss
ThOrne? If | had to choose an occupation,
| should select yours directly"
81 have met with nothing romantic as
yet" ! smiled. 81 am afraid you would not
find all so rOse-cOlOred as you imagine.
Possibly, as your sister intimates, my ex-
perience with Lady Fenwick was unfortu-
nate; she always treated me more as a
daughter than companion, and perhaps
that spoiled the romance"
"How delightful to be treated as the great
granddaughter Of a tallOw merchantp'
Sneered Lady Martin.
But your experience, you see, has been
limited as yet" Annis went OH. You do
not know what is in store"
"MtHuOllut' DlOht III llc CAIN NOiNC VI
Hilda Farquhar, do you intend to accept
the Trevelyans's invitation for the 22nd?
Annls shall | reach you the second volume
of VtUenF'
mo, thank you" responded Annis; Il
want to talk to Miss ThOrne."
She tried to talk on pleasantly to me
about ClOisterham-my hOme-what had
seen, what my tastes were. Gwendoline
now and again interrupted her with biting
remarks, scOrnful to the verge OF insOlence
perhaps she thought insOlence TO cOmpan-
ion impossible. Hilda tried to engage her
in conversation and lead her to ignore, as
she herself did, my existence; but Gwendo-
line restlessly broke away from the ques-
tons Of parties and people and books TO
break in upon Annis's wel-meant chat, I'M
able to resist, it would seem, the chance of
o sneer.
You are fortunate to have so many broth
ers and sisters" Annis was saying. II have
often longed for a brother; but there are
only we three-GwendOline, Hilda, and my
self"
"Clergymen always have large families"
GwendOline said. And the poorer they
are, the more children, think, they have"
IF it be So" Annis said smilingly, "it is
proof that nature knows they are best fit
ted to bring them up well and wisely"
And that curates are better fitted for
such task even than bishops" retOrted
Gwendoline.
Men do not often become bishops until
their families are grown up, and then one
| does not notice how many children there